As we found a place to stand, groups of students from visiting schools participated in the ceremony. Some places leave an impression that stays with you long after you’ve gone home.
For us, Arlington National Cemetery was one of those places.
If you’re planning a visit to Washington, D.C., I cannot recommend this experience enough. No photograph or video can truly prepare you for what you’ll feel while standing on those grounds.
When we arrived, we learned that a special wreath-laying ceremony was taking place before the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It wasn’t something we had planned to see, making it feel even more meaningful.
They carefully carried each wreath alongside the guards before presenting it with the dignity and respect the occasion deserved. One by one, the wreaths were placed in front of the Tomb, each serving as a quiet reminder of the sacrifices made by so many.
When the ceremony concluded, the crowd became almost completely silent as everyone turned their attention to the Changing of the Guard.
It’s difficult to put into words what we felt while watching.
The precision of every movement, every step, every pause is something you have to witness for yourself. There is an incredible sense of honor, discipline, and reverence that surrounds the ceremony. For those few minutes, it seemed as though time simply stood still.
It was one of the most moving moments of our entire trip to Washington.
Afterward, we boarded the Arlington National Cemetery Tours trolley to continue to explore the rest of the cemetery. We highly recommend taking the hop-on, hop-off tour. Not only does it save quite a bit of walking, but the narration shares the stories behind many of the notable men and women laid to rest there, giving you a much deeper appreciation for the history that surrounds you.
The photos below capture just a small glimpse of our visit, but they can never fully convey the respect, gratitude, and emotion we experienced while walking through this remarkable place.
When we planned our Washington, D.C. trip, we knew we’d spend plenty of time walking. What we didn’t realize was just how much history we would pack into a single day.
By the time we climbed back onto the Metro that evening, our watches showed nearly ten miles of walking. Our feet were tired, our camera batteries were nearly dead, and we couldn’t stop talking about everything we had seen.
For two people who had never visited our nation’s capital, it was one of those days that reminded us exactly why we chose this lifestyle.
Learning the Metro
Our adventure began by taking the campground shuttle to the city bus before transferring to the Metro. We exited at Archives–Navy Memorial Station and started walking down Pennsylvania Avenue.
Almost immediately it felt like history surrounded us. Along the way we passed the U.S. Navy Memorial, the National Archives, the J. Edgar Hoover FBI Building, the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, and the John A. Wilson Building. Even the buildings you simply walk past in Washington seem to have a story worth telling.
(click on pic for larger scale photo)
A Meaningful Start
Our first major stop was the World War I Memorial.
What made this stop especially memorable wasn’t just the beautiful memorial itself—it was learning about the daily tradition of “Taps.” Every afternoon at 5:00 p.m., a bugler plays the familiar melody in honor of those who served. We later learned that as of July 3, 2025, the tradition had reached 1,500 consecutive days, regardless of the weather. It’s small traditions like this that quietly remind you that remembrance isn’t reserved for holidays.
Our White House Lesson
One of the places I was most excited to see was the White House.
Unfortunately, we quickly discovered that timing matters.
Construction, security barriers, and preparations for upcoming events meant there was only one small viewing area through a fence. I managed to line up my camera just right and capture a photograph, but it certainly wasn’t the view we had imagined.
That was our first lesson of the trip: sometimes you can plan everything perfectly and still miss out on something you hoped to see.
Instead of letting it disappoint us, we decided it simply gave us another reason to come back.
We also stopped inside the White House Visitor Center, where we picked up a Christmas ornament to add to our travel tree back at the RV. We always enjoy bringing home ornaments because every December they remind us of the places we’ve been together.
Lunch Worth Remembering
By lunchtime our legs were beginning to feel the miles.
We eventually found ourselves at the Sweet Home Café inside the National Museum of African American History and Culture after seeing the Ronald Reagon Building, which also houses the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Without question, I had one of the best plates of shrimp and grits I’ve had in a long time. Sometimes the meals you remember most aren’t the ones you planned—they’re the ones you discover after wandering around all morning.
Standing Beneath the Washington Monument
After lunch we made our way toward the Washington Monument.
No matter how many photographs you’ve seen, nothing prepares you for standing beneath it and looking straight up at all 555 feet.
Visitors can ride an elevator to the observation deck, but Greg and I politely passed. Being a little claustrophobic and seeing the long lines made that decision pretty easy.
One detail I found especially interesting was the change in the color of the marble. Construction began in 1848 but stopped for more than twenty years because of funding issues and the Civil War before finally being completed in 1888. If you look closely, you can actually see where construction resumed.
From the monument, the views toward the World War II Memorial, the Reflecting Pool, and the Lincoln Memorial were absolutely breathtaking.
Memorials that Leave You Quiet
The World War II Memorial was one of those places that encourages you to slow down.
Visitors are welcome to cool their feet in the fountain, something we had never seen before at a national memorial. Sitting there for a few moments gave us time to reflect on the millions of Americans who served and sacrificed during the war.
As we continued toward the Lincoln Memorial, we noticed the Reflecting Pool was still being refilled after restoration work. Even without its usual water level, it was still beautiful enough to capture some wonderful reflections of the Washington Monument.
Climbing the steps to the Lincoln Memorial wasn’t exactly easy after nearly nine miles of walking, but every step was worth it.
Standing before Abraham Lincoln’s massive seated statue is one of those moments that’s difficult to describe. It’s a place you’ve seen countless times in photographs, yet seeing it in person carries a completely different feeling.
Two Memorials That Stay With You
Our final stops of the day were the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Korean War Veterans Memorial.
Walking alongside the Vietnam Wall while reading the thousands of engraved names makes history incredibly personal. Those names represent sons, daughters, husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, and friends whose families carried on without them.
The nearby Three Servicemen statue seems to quietly watch over those names, adding another layer of emotion to the experience.
The Korean War Veterans Memorial had an entirely different atmosphere.
There was a noticeable sense of quiet reverence among everyone visiting. The nineteen stainless steel soldiers moving through the terrain create an image that’s difficult to forget, and the memorial serves as a powerful reminder of those who served during what is often called “The Forgotten War.”
Lessons Learned
By the end of the day we were exhausted.
Instead of catching the Metro at the closer Foggy Bottom station, we walked all the way back to Archives because we simply didn’t know any better. Looking back, we laugh about it now.
If there’s one piece of advice we’d pass along, it’s this: spend a little time learning the Metro before you arrive. It’ll save your feet a few extra miles.
Final Thoughts
As military families, memorials always carry special meaning for us, but seeing them in person is something entirely different.
Reading the names engraved in stone, standing where history unfolded, and reflecting on the sacrifices made for our freedom made this one of the most meaningful days of our trip.
Washington, D.C. gave us far more than photographs that day.
It gave us perspective.
And as America celebrates 250 years in 2026, we couldn’t think of a better place to begin exploring the nation’s story than right here among these memorials.
Sometimes the longest days become the ones you remember the most.
After two wonderful Harvest Hosts stays, it was finally time to head toward the destination we'd been planning for months...
Washington, D.C.
We had reserved a full week at Cherry Hill RV Park in College Park, Maryland, because we wanted enough time to experience as much of our nation's capital as possible. From everything we'd researched, Cherry Hill was one of the closest and most convenient RV parks for exploring Washington, D.C., and we couldn't wait to begin sightseeing.
But before we could even think about monuments and museums, our excitement quickly turned into disappointment.
As we were getting settled into our site, we walked around Big Bertha and noticed something wasn't right.
Two windows had been broken during the trip.
The driver's side rear of the RV had deep scratches, rock chips, and dents that hadn't been there when we left Tennessee.
Our hearts sank.
It was one of those moments where you just stand there staring, wondering...
"How did this happen?"
"When did this happen?"
"How much is this going to cost to fix?"
I'll be honest.
After everything that had happened during our first few days on the road—the sewing cabinet falling over, the broken patio door hardware, and now exterior damage to our brand-new RV—I started wondering if we'd made the right decision.
Had we made a mistake?
Were we crazy for leaving the comfort of our home behind?
For a little while, those thoughts were hard to ignore.
But then I thought back to everything that had happened before we ever hit the road.
Selling our house in a single day.
Finding Big Bertha.
Finding our truck.
The way one piece after another had fallen into place.
There were simply too many moments that reminded me God had been guiding this journey from the very beginning.
That didn't mean everything would be easy.
It simply meant we needed to trust Him through the difficult moments just as much as the exciting ones.
Sometimes faith isn't believing that nothing will go wrong.
Sometimes it's believing you'll be okay when it does.
Once we had a chance to catch our breath, we started exploring Cherry Hill RV Park, and it didn't take long for our spirits to lift.
To say this campground exceeded our expectations would be an understatement.
It truly felt like a resort.
There were swimming pools, splash pads, basketball courts, beautiful landscaping, waterfalls, a café, playgrounds, and one of the biggest advantages of all—easy access to the city bus that connected us to Washington's public transportation system.
For anyone wanting to visit our nation's capital without driving through the city, the location couldn't have been more convenient.
By the end of our first evening, we knew we had chosen the right place to stay.
Without question, Cherry Hill RV Park is somewhere we'd happily return if our travels bring us back to the Washington, D.C., area.
Sometimes the road throws unexpected challenges your way.
Sometimes it rewards you with places that remind you exactly why you started the journey in the first place.
For us...
Cherry Hill became both.
And with Big Bertha safely parked, it was finally time to begin exploring one of the most historic cities in America.
After an eventful first travel day, we finally arrived at our destination...
Moonlight Drive-In in Abingdon, Virginia.
Located just off Interstate 81, not far beyond the Tennessee-Virginia state line, it would become our very first Harvest Hosts experience.
When we traveled full-time years ago, Harvest Hosts wasn't something we had ever used. This time around, we wanted to try something different, and honestly, I picked this location simply because I couldn't resist staying at a classic drive-in theater.
As soon as we arrived, we got Big Bertha parked and started setting up camp.
Or at least we tried to.
Our first setup brought yet another unexpected surprise.
This time, our leveling jacks decided they didn't want to cooperate.
Thankfully, Brinkley's Customer Care team was only a phone call away. Their representative patiently walked us through the issue over the phone, and before long we had everything working correctly.
One more problem solved.
As for Paisley...
She handled her first travel day much better than we expected.
She spent a little while hiding underneath one of the cabinets while we were getting set up, but once she realized the RV had stopped moving, she cautiously came out to investigate and quickly returned to her normal curious self.
One travel day down...
Many more to go.
Not long after we finished setting up, the skies opened up.
Rain poured down, putting a temporary pause on our plans.
Fortunately, it eased up just long enough for us to make our way to the concession stand when it opened around 7:00 that evening.
Walking inside felt like stepping back in time.
The nostalgic atmosphere was exactly what I had hoped it would be.
Vintage signs.
Classic movie theater charm.
The smell of fresh popcorn filling the air.
It was everything you'd expect from an old-fashioned drive-in.
Of course, we couldn't leave without ordering a few treats.
I enjoyed a big bucket of wonderfully salty popcorn while Greg chose nachos. We both grabbed fountain drinks before heading back to the RV.
The plan was simple.
Lower the patio.
Relax outside.
Watch a movie under the stars.
Mother Nature, however, had a different idea.
The rain returned shortly after we got back, and we honestly weren't sure if the movie would even play.
While we waited, we stretched out inside the RV...
And promptly fell asleep.
When we woke up around 9:00 or 9:30, we discovered the movie had indeed started. It wasn't one we were particularly interested in, so instead of watching it outside as we'd planned, we spent a quiet evening relaxing inside Big Bertha, listening to the rain and enjoying our first night on the road.
Sometimes Plan B turns out to be just as enjoyable as Plan A.
Our first Harvest Hosts stay may not have gone exactly as we imagined, but by the end of the evening we were already looking forward to visiting many more Harvest Hosts locations throughout our travels.
If they're anything like Moonlight Drive-In, we're in for some wonderful adventures.
Our Thoughts
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Moonlight Drive-In was the perfect introduction to Harvest Hosts.
Between the nostalgic atmosphere, friendly staff, delicious concession food, and unique overnight experience, we couldn't have asked for a better first stop.
Even though the rain changed our evening plans, we'd absolutely stay here again.
Sometimes the destination isn't about everything going perfectly.
Sometimes it's simply about making memories.
And this stop gave us plenty of those.
Have you ever stayed at a Harvest Hosts location? We'd love to hear about your favorite stop!
